Ukraine-Russia war live: Former army officer warns Kyiv has ‘six months left’ as US passes £76bn aid package

Ukraine-Russia war live: UK accused of ‘helping Moscow pay for war’ as US to send weapons to Kyiv this week

The US Senate has passed £49bn in military aid for Ukraine which can be delivered ‘within days’

Representatives celebrate and wave flags after Congress passes Ukraine aid package

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The UK has been accused of helping Moscow “pay for its war” in Ukraine by importing record amounts of refined oil from countries processing Russian fossil fuels.

British imports of refined oil from India, China and Turkey – which Russia exports crude oil to – amounted to £2.2bn in 2023, up from £434.2m in 2021, according to environmental news website Desmog.

Lela Stanley, a senior investigator at Global Witness, said: “Millions of barrels of fuel made from Russian oil continue to pour into the UK. Make no mistake: until the government closes this loophole, Britain is helping Russia pay for its war on Ukraine.”

It comes as US president Joe Biden said he would sign the bill into law immediately and America would start sending weapons to Kyiv this week.

“I will sign this bill into law and address the American people as soon as it reaches my desk tomorrow so we can begin sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine this week,” he said.

The bill included £49bn in military aid for Ukraine, which the Pentagon says can start being delivered to the war-torn nation within days. President Joe Biden is expected to sign the legislation into law on Wednesday.

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US Senate passes £76bn aid package

On Wednesday, the US Senate approved a £76bn foreign aid packaged that included military support for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

It included £49bn in military aid for Ukraine, which the Pentagon says can start being delivered to the war-torn nation within days. President Joe Biden is expected to sign the legislation into law on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the UK also pledged £500m in new military supplies for Ukraine, including long-range missiles and four million rounds of ammunition.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) speaks after the Senate passed a foreign aid bill (Getty Images)

Alexander Butler24 April 2024 08:40

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Ukraine gets a big boost of US aid. It still faces a long slog to repel Russia

Alexander Butler24 April 2024 16:17

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Ukraine’s forces prepare for offensive from Putin’s troops in east

Alexander Butler24 April 2024 15:47

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Seven Russian officers killed in strike near Mariupol

At least seven Russian officers have been killed in a missile strike near occupied Mariupol, a Ukrainian official has claimed.

Petro Andryushchenko, an aide to Mariupol’s exiled Ukrainian mayor, said at least six missiles struck a camp being used by the Russian military in Babakh-Tarama, in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.

The attack caused at least seven fatalities, while more than ten other people were injured.

Alexander Butler24 April 2024 14:55

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UK and Germany deepen defence ties

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz agreed to closer defence cooperation on Wednesday, with both leaders saying Europe must unite to support Ukraine against Russia for as long as it takes.

The British leader hailed closer ties with Germany a day after announcing he would raise defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP a year by 2030 in what he said was a challenge to other European countries to follow suit.

The two announced plans to develop Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155mm Wheeled Artillery Systems (RCH 155) and discuss collaboration on energy projects, including German energy investment, according to the British government.

The two leaders said Europe must unite to support Ukraine against Russia for as long as it takes

Alexander Butler24 April 2024 14:48

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UK accused of funding Russian war effort through oil imports

The UK has been accused of helping Moscow “pay for its war” in Ukraine by importing record amounts of refined oil from countries processing Russian fossil fuels.

Alexander Butler24 April 2024 14:36

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Locked up for opposing Putin: Inside Vladimir Kara-Murza’s brutal prison ordeal

Alexander Butler24 April 2024 13:30

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Ukrainian drones struck two Rosneft oil depots in attack, Kyiv source says

Drones sent by Ukraine’s SBU security service struck two Rosneft-owned oil depots in Russia’s Smolensk region in an overnight attack on Wednesday, a Ukrainian intelligence source said.

The source said the depots contained 26,000 cubic metres of fuel and that the attack caused major fires and evacuation of personnel.

“The SBU continues to effectively destroy military infrastructure and logistics that provide fuel to the Russian army in Ukraine,” the source said. “These facilities are and will remain our absolutely legitimate targets.”

Fire breaks out at energy facilities after a Ukraine-launched drone attack in Yartsevo, Smolensk region (via REUTERS)

Drones sent by Ukraine’s SBU security service struck two Rosneft-owned oil depots in Russia’s Smolensk region, Kyiv said (REUTERS)

Alexander Butler24 April 2024 13:05

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The Russian glide bombs changing the face of the war in Ukraine

Winged explosives weighing up to 1,500 kilograms – and nicknamed the ‘building destroyer’ – have had a devastating impact wherever they have been used, writes Tom Watling. Kyiv is battling them as best it can but needs Western allies to step up and provide more weapons, air defences and ammunition

Alexander Butler24 April 2024 13:00

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